Wetlands Decision Still Stuck Delays Dog Project For More Than Year

More than one year of delays in a pivotal federal study of southwest Broward County`s remaining wetlands has county officials, planners and developers wondering whether it will ever be completed.

``The longer the delay is, the bigger the questions get,`` said Michael Wanchick, administrator of the Broward Planning Council. ``A lot of people are getting uneasy about it.``

The study is designed to identify important wetlands that should be saved from development.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers began looking hard at southwest Broward in 1989, focusing on the wetlands that lie west of Interstate 75 but outside the Everglades conservation areas.

Scientists quickly mapped out three areas: where development should be banned, where only minor development should be allowed, and where construction could move ahead.

Among the areas earmarked for no development was the Everglades Buffer Strip and a tract of land east of U.S. 27 where developers want to build expensive homes and where Broward County wants to build an airport.

Since then, from a public perspective, the study has become mired. Announced deadlines came and went throughout 1990, with little explanation from EPA`s regional office in Atlanta.

In the meantime, county planners drawing growth guidelines for the area are uncertain how to deal with the study.

But officials last week announced a new schedule and said they intend to stick to it.